Meike Launches a Cheap 50mm f/1.7 Lens for Canon RF and Nikon Z
The Hong Kong-based camera equipment company Meike has launched an affordable 50mm f/1.7 manual-focus prime lens for Canon and Nikon's full-frame mirrorless camera systems.
‘Tank Man’ Photographer Finds Himself in a Jeopardy Clue
You know you've established your photographic legacy when you show up as a clue on Jeopardy, and that's what happened to photographer Jeff Widener a few days ago. One of the clues on the ever-popular trivia game show focused on Widener's iconic "Tank Man" photo.
500px Bans Photographer for Photos Not Being ‘Photographic’ Enough
Tim Gamble is a Manchester, UK-based photographer who uses light-painting techniques to create surreal and abstract artworks. His photos are almost entirely created in-camera, so imagine Gamble's surprise when 500px unexpectedly deleted his account for "posting non-photographic content."
My First Shoot with a Fine Art Photography Collective
I’m always looking to find new ways to incorporate larger goals into my photography. I find it focuses my approach to the way I treat it as a career and a hobby. By dedicating myself to projects outside of things relevant to my life, I am able to explore potential new ways of seeing and interacting the world through my camera. Something I’ve always been interested in is the idea of photography collectives; a group of visual artists with shared philosophies, spaces, and resources.
Photos of Iconic British Red Post Boxes in the Lake District National Park
My name is Tom White, and I'm a photographer based in the UK. Letter to the Lakes is a project I started last year to photograph the iconic British red post box in the beautiful setting of the Lake District National Park.
Ep. 310: Sony Raises Its Bar yet Again – and more
Episode 310 of the PetaPixel Photography Podcast.
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Featured: Parachūt cofounder, Melissa Niu
Capturing the Eye-Popping Density of Hong Kong’s Tower Blocks
Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated areas in the world, with an overall density of an estimated 6,300 people per square kilometer. More than 7 million people live on about 1,108 square kilometers (427 square miles) of land, and 29.1% of the Hong Kong population lives in public rental housing estates.
The Pros and Cons of Syndicating Your Photos
For a while now, I’ve wanted to cover the topic of syndication as it was a major factor in my work gaining widespread exposure and for the full-time career that I have now as a fine art, commercial, and editorial photographer.
Portraits of Federal Workers Affected by the Longest Government Shutdown
The following is a photographic essay of 21 real people – 21 of 800,000 workers – affected by the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. Federal workers have become unwilling pawns in the shutdown. Perhaps most dehumanizing, the media and certain politicians relegate these great individuals to being part of a blind number -- “800,000 federal workers.”
Shooting a B-2 Stealth Bomber Flying Over the Rose Bowl
Ten years ago, in January 2009, was the first time I ever photographed a flyover and this year the same pilot was doing his last Rose Bowl flyover as he is retiring from the Air Force this year. The challenge this year was the strong winds and subsequent turbulence.
Google Search Could Ditch All Photo Thumbnails Under EU Copyright Law
In September 2018, the European Parliament voted in favor of the highly controversial EU Copyright Directive, which aims to "harmonize" copyright law across Europe. But critics argue the law could destroy the open Web, and now Google is showing an eye-opening look at what its search results could soon look like.
What I Learned from Seeing ‘The Eye of Sauron’ in My Night Sky Photo
Roughly two years ago, I bought my first decent DSLR camera. I was overprotective, cleaning every bit of dust I could see and adding extra padding in my bag to avoid any possible accidents whenever I carried it around.
Camera Not Tethering to Capture One? Cloud File Syncing May Be to Blame
Is your Sony camera not tethering to Capture One Pro or any other software on your Mac or Windows computer? I had this issue for quite some time and thought there must be some issue with my system, or camera, or wire -- nope. I decided to write a message to Capture One and get a fix but no one could help me.
A Digital Landscape Photographer’s Introduction to Film
I am constantly asked questions about how I started and how to start shooting film. So, here we go! This guide is intended to be a story of my introduction to film as a landscape photographer, provide some tips, introductions, and guidance, but in no means is it intended to be a foolproof method of how to shoot film.
The Terrible History of Photographs, Sesame Street-Style
It has never been easier to shoot and share photos than in our modern Instagram age. The YouTube puppet web series Glove and Boots made this tongue-in-cheek 5-minute video on the "terrible history of photographs" to explain how much time and effort it took to do photography in past eras.
Here Are Olympus’ Three Teasers for the Upcoming OM-D E-M1X
Olympus is reportedly going to be announcing a pro-style Micro Four Thirds mirrorless camera on January 24th, 2019, and the company has released the third and final teaser video to drum up some hype before the official unveiling.
Discovering History in an 80-Year-Old Camera
In my mom’s home office, there has been a really old camera sitting on her bookshelf since I can remember. No one ever touched it. I don’t remember a time where it has ever moved.
This Photo of Earth and the Moon Was Shot from 71 Million Miles Away
Here's a new photo that shows Earth and the Moon from a whopping 71 million miles away. It was captured by NASA's OSIRIS-REx, which is currently on a mission to obtain a sample from a near-Earth asteroid and return it to Earth.
Heartbreaking Photos of Pet Owners Saying Goodbye to Their Dying Pets
Last Moments is a powerful photo series by Pulitzer Prize-nominated photographer Ross Taylor, who was invited to document the intimate last moments in a beloved pet's life when the owner must deal with a painful farewell.
Using a Single DIY Globe Modifier for Simple, Stunning Portraits
It’s not often I get to shoot very simple, clean white light shots, but in a recent shoot the model asked if she could get some updated ‘Polaroids’. For those of you not familiar with the term when used in reference to a model shoot, it’s actually not the now-obsolete and ludicrously expensive single-shot film, but a request for very basic portraits of the model for their agency.
This Dog is a Talented Skateboarding Cameraman
Illustrator Rob Mathieson has a dog named Fatman the Dog with some impressive camera skills. With a camera mounted to his back, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier captures great footage of skateboarders doing their thing.
Turn a Broken Laptop’s Screen Into a View Camera Ground Glass
Iranian photographer Alireza Rostami loves experimenting with camera equipment, from flipping a lens element for "magic bokeh" to creating a working analog watch camera. His latest experiment is also off the beaten path: he found that a display from a broken laptop works perfectly as a view camera's ground glass.
The New York Times’ Photographic Double Standard
In covering the terrorist attack on a Nairobi hotel that killed at least 21 people by Shahab extremists, The New York Times decided to publish an image of a bullet-riddled body taken by Khalil Senosi. Photo Twitter was outraged, and Poynter wrote about the “hard choice” the NYT made regarding the selection.
4K Drone Footage of a Giant Spinning Circle of Ice in a River
Bulldog Aerials founder Todd McKee shot this amazing 4K drone footage of a giant perfect circle of spinning ice that appeared in the middle of a Maine river.
Fujifilm Unveils 100-200mm f/5.6 OIS Lens for GFX Medium Format
Fujifilm has just announced the new Fujinon GF 100-200mm f/5.6 R LM OIS WR telephoto zoom lens for GFX medium format cameras.
A Review of 35mm Kodak Ektachrome E100 Film
Those who follow my work know that I consider myself a large format photographer. I will photograph with a medium format camera, particularly when I’m trying to save weight on a backpacking trip or save time when I’m teaching a photography workshop, but 35mm has been somewhat shunned in my arsenal, being a format I deemed too small to be used effectively for my work.
I Built a Replica Chinese Takeout Restaurant in My Photo Studio
My name is Nicky Hamilton, I’m a photographer from London. In-between commercial work I produce fine art photography, specializing in cinematic set builds, which unlike my commercial work is done solo, the set design, build, photography, styling, and retouching. It started this way as a means to an end but then blossomed to become a meditative process that’s creatively very fulfilling for me.
How an Elaborate International Scam is Making the Rounds Among Instagrammers and Photographers
It all started with an email from Wendi Murdoch. She claimed that she had found us through a personal recommendation from a senior editor at Conde Naste Traveler. We had just finished talking with Conde Nast Traveler about doing some Instagram featured work on both my and Zory’s accounts, so the timing made sense.
How to Clean Your Camera Lens with Candle Soot
Camera lens cleaning pens use fine carbon particles to help cleanly remove smudges from your glass. Do you know what else has carbon particles? Soot. Here's a short 2.5-minute video in which photographer Mathieu Stern shows how you can use ordinary candle soot to get the same cleaning power as popular lens pens.
How to Light Nighttime Portraits With Only a Phone Flashlight
Sometimes, you’re forced to work with what you’ve got, even if that means just the flashlight on your phone. In this 10-minute video, you’ll learn 5 ways to light portraits using just a phone flashlight.
Sony a9, a7R III, and a7 III to Get AF Upgrade via Firmware Update
Sony has just announced major upcoming firmware updates to the a9, a7R III, and a7 III mirrorless cameras that will include improved autofocus performance and features.
Sony Unveils the a6400: Real-Time Eye AF and Tracking, World’s Fastest AF
Sony has just announced its latest mirrorless camera. The new a6400 features an impressive list of specs and features, including real-time eye autofocus, real-time tracking, and the world's fastest autofocus.
It May Soon Be Legal to Fly Certain Drones at Night and Over People
The US Department of Transportation has proposed new rules for drones in the United States that would make it legal for pilots to fly at night and over people.
This Solar System Photo Was Shot From a Photographer’s Backyard
Check out this family portrait of our solar system. It's a composite photo created by a single astrophotographer who photographed the planets from his own backyard in Sacramento, California.
Canon #1 in Both DSLR and Mirrorless Sales in Japan in 2018
Sony has made big strides in the camera industry with its strong mirrorless camera offerings in recent years, but it has a long way to go before hitting its goal of being the top camera brand by 2021. The 800-pound gorilla in the industry is still Canon, which ranked #1 in both DSLR and mirrorless camera sales in Japan in the year 2018.
Create Impossible Photos with a Lighting Composite
“Do you have 9 lights?” The account manager at Oakland University asked me. Somewhat inspired by a Queen album cover, he was looking to create an image where 9 award-winning students stood out in a dramatized version of a newly renovated space on campus. While I understood the goal of the session, I immediately knew rigging 9 lights up would be nearly impossible while showing such a vast space. I told him that it may take some time, but I could get it done with just 2 lights.
Capturing the Beauty of Fall in Slovenia with Photographer Karen Hutton
SmugMug Films made this 7-minute short film that follows California-based landscape photographer Karen Hutton as she captures the beauty of autumn in the tiny country of Slovenia.
I Shot Nothing But B&W Photos for a Year, and I’m Better For It
I’m not sure on what day I realized that my street photography work had become overly homogeneous, and sometimes asinine. “Oh look, a red car and a red shirt. click.” I’d been in love with the look of Fujifilm’s Classic Chrome (based off of Kodak Kodachrome) and had begun to shoot a lot of color for color’s sake.
This 4K Timelapse is a Dazzling Tribute to New York City
Time-lapse photographer Michael Shainblum has released a new 4K time-lapse short film titled "Liberty" that beautifully captures the scale, beauty, and pace of New York City.
Dissecting the Shot: A Long-Exposure Photo of London’s East India Station
In this article, I am going to dissect how I took an image from both a technical and narrative standpoint. I hope this gives you some ideas for your own photography.
A Day in the Life of a Kiwi Police Officer Photographer
The Auckland, New Zealand police department posted this interesting 9-minute behind-the-scenes video that shows a day in the life of a Kiwi Police Photographer.
Backpacking the World with a 500mm Prime Lens
6 months ago, my girlfriend and I finally did what we had always dreamed of doing: quitting our jobs and traveling the world. This is a relatively normal narrative for western couples in their 20s, but the difference here is I am a passionate wildlife photographer.
100MP+ and IBIS Coming to a Canon EOS R Camera: Report
Canon's $2,299 30MP EOS R was its first full-frame mirrorless camera, but it has long been reported that it's a middle-tier camera and that entry-level and pro-grade models are on the way. Rumors are now heating up that Canon has a 100-megapixel EOS R camera in the works -- one that packs in-body image stabilization.
Two Months with the Canon EOS R
2018 was a weird year and one that I’m glad is behind us. One highlight late in the year was Canon announcing the EOS R.
Random Egg Picture Smashes Record for Most-Liked Instagram Photo
Move over Kylie Jenner: your record for the most-liked Instagram photo of all time has been overtaken... by a random photo of an egg.
Friends Through Flames: Camaraderie on the Front Lines of Wildfire Photography
When historic wildfires raged across California last year, thousands of firefighters were deployed to combat them. And alongside those brave men and women were fearless wildfire photographers who raced to the front lines to document the devastation for the world's eyes.
Man’s $1,998 Camera Fried by Self-Driving Car Laser
Self-driving cars widely use a technology called lidar (which stands for light detection and ranging) to "see" the world using laser pulses. These lasers are designed to be safe to human eyes, but it seems they may not always be safe for cameras. A man at CES in Las Vegas says that a car-mounted lidar permanently damaged the sensor in his new $1,998 Sony a7R II mirrorless camera.
Capturing the Milky Way Over Yosemite National Park
Back in June of 2018, I was fortunate enough to make a 9-day trip to Yosemite National Park, California to capture the Milky Way galaxy over Half Dome. My entire trip revolved around capturing this image since I had captured nearly this same panorama two years prior during my first ever trip to the park in 2016.
Kodak Unveils New Smile Line of Instant Cameras and Printers
The company C+A Global has announced a new line of Kodak instant cameras and printers called Smile. The new products are designed to help the masses shoot and share Zink instant photos.
Experiments in Antique USSR Film
Want to hear a communist joke? Well, they are only really funny if everyone gets them, but if you still want to hear it, then Soviet: A worker standing in a liquor line says: “I have had enough, save my place, I am going to shoot Gorbachev.” Two hours later he returns to claim his place in line. His friends ask, “Did you get him?” “No, the line there was even longer than the line here.”